Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

Once upon a time when a Pandya King along with his troops was going to wage war and conquer parts north of Pandya kingdom. When passing through a forest area which had wild jasmine creepers he noted a golden colored “Udumbu” (Monitor Lizard) running across the forest. Curious by the golden color he started following the lizard which went inside a hole in the trunk of a “Sarakondrai” tree (Cassia fistula, also known as the golden shower tree). The Pandya king asked his men to cut the tree to locate the golden lizard. When his men axed the tree, blood started flowing from the axed tree. When his men dug the tree out, they found a “swayambhoo” Shiva lingam under the tree that was axed. The Pandya king felt sad that the axing of the tree had hurt the Shiva linga that was beneath the tree. That night Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of the king and wanted him to build a temple at that place where the “swayambhoo” lingam was found. The king, taking the command of the Lord decided to build the temple. He gave the responsibility of building the temple to Saivaite saint Trinetradhari and gave him necessary gold and other material to carry out the job. He then proceeded north to carry on with his pursuit of conquering northern parts of the Pandya kingdom. The saint built the temple with two presiding deities with two sanctum. One was in front of the Rajagopuram and the other was in front of the flag post (kodi maram), Nandhi and the “Bali peedam”. Saint Tirunavukkarasar mentions this temple in Kshetra Kovai hymns. Saint Gnanasambandar has praised this temple in his Thevaram hymns.